Using Global News Media to Examine Society's Views of HIV Attributable to Sexual Assault

INTRODUCTION: HIV and sexual assault (SA) are described in some countries as a ‘dual epidemic’ and are of special concern in areas with high intimate partner violence, gender violence, and conflict-ridden areas. The study sought to examine HIV attributable to SA (HIVSA) using a media content analysis to determine differences in geographic representations and topic coverage throughout time. This study sought to answer three questions:

1. What are the thematic representations of articles?
2. What is the geographic representation of articles?
3. Do thematic representations differ geographically and temporally?

METHODS: The study employed thematic and content analyses in news articles found through LexisNexis from 1985 to 2012 (n = 409). Analytical methods employed grounded theory coding and geospatial mapping (ArcGIS 10).

RESULTS: Themes varied according to geographic location and time. Much of the media in Southern Africa focused on the ‘Virgin Rape Myth’ and its contribution to HIVSA, while United States focused on HIV sexual assault notification laws. There were also themes that echoed victim responsibility of sexual assault stereotypes such as promiscuity and males as not being legitimate rape victims. Furthermore, media sentiments expressed a desire of increased deterrence measures for sexual offenders with HIV particularly in the late 80s and early 90s as a result of HIV as a “death sentence” depicted in the media and notification laws that pacify the victim. Other themes included concern of immigrants as threats for HIVSA, the betrayal of protectors of society and people in high power, and HIVSA as a concern in conflict-ridden areas.

DISCUSSION: The news may be used as an examination of a society’s views and values, particularly in a global context. HIVSA is a great concern, particularly in areas where prevalence of both HIV and SA are high, and programming that should consider HIVSA do not. Using the media as an initial step in analyzing society’s views of a critical topic may reveal areas in which media can be used to inform intervention programming and may be used as a tool to inform societies about HIVSA.